Leaning Chimney

A common problem in residential construction is a leaning chimney. The direction in which the chimney is leaning can indicate whether there is a structural issue or a foundation issue. There are two main types of leaning chimneys: those leaning away from the house and those leaning over or on the house/roof.

If the top portion of the chimney, near the roof line, is leaning over or on the house and looks like it may crash into your home, then you have a serious structural problem. In this case, it is best to call a mason or structural contractor for repairs. A qualified contractor will likely need to remove the brick above the roof structure, shore up the existing framing, and then replace the brick or possibly use lighter materials like stucco. A short list of masonry contractors that Foundation Worx trusts can be found here.

If your chimney looks like it is leaning away from your house, as if it might fall into your yard, then you most likely have a foundation problem. There are many reasons a chimney can lean away from a house, including uncompacted fill material, shallow footings, poor or unsuitable soils to handle a concentrated load, and poor drainage/water management. In any of these cases, helical or resistance piers can be used to support the falling or leaning chimney. In many cases, the chimney can be pushed back and lifted at the same time, resulting in a much improved look. Foundation Worx typically sees 50% or more of the chimney lean eliminated.

If you suspect that you have a chimney problem and it appears to be a foundation problem, give Foundation Worx's office a call to schedule a free evaluation.